Edmond Thornfield’s Atalanta of the Wild is the retelling of the Greek myth of Atalanta. She is the fastest runner and the finest huntress of her age. She was abandoned on a mountain as a baby because her father wanted a son. The goddess Artemis saved her and bade Megálē, the mother bear, to nurse her. Kind uncles in the woods raised her. Years later, King Iasios of Tegea, her father, finds her and asks forgiveness, and now she has the siblings she always wanted. When she joins the Calydonian boar hunt, she outraces everyone. Her father decrees that any suitor must beat her in a footrace or die. And so, every suitor faces death while Atalanta’s pain grows in watching them waste their lives. Hippomēnes becomes the most formidable suitor, son of King Megarēas of Okhestōs in Boeōtía. He comes bearing Aphrodíte's golden apples. Will he win Atalanta’s heart or encounter the same fate as the others?

Edmond Thornfield brings to life the power of great mortals and gods, creating atmospheric tension and a conflict that moves the plot forward: the fatality linked to courting Atalanta. The author made the Greek goddess Artemis feel like a human. The characters are exceptionally drawn, and the bond between Atalanta and Néos, her lifelong friend, is the heartbeat of the story. Around them is a cast of friends and siblings, with twins Kástōr and Polydeúkes bringing warmth to the story with their playful banter. Atalanta of the Wild explores a woman’s right to choose her own path. Loyalty, grief, and freedom are themes skillfully woven into the story’s fabric. The pacing is steady, with sudden bursts of action and a prophecy that follows Atalanta’s path. In lyrical prose, the author delivers a mythical tale in which gods meddle in the affairs of men and familiar heroes cross Atalanta’s path; it is engaging and utterly delightful.

Atalanta of the Wild by Edmond Thornfield retells the Greek myth of Atalanta with a few creative changes. Atalanta is the fastest mortal alive and the only woman deemed worthy to hunt alongside heroes in the Bronze Age world. She has sworn to the goddess Artemis that she will never marry, and that is where the trouble begins. When suitors from across Akhaiwíā come seeking her hand, a deadly bargain is struck. Each man must outrun her in a footrace or die by the track. Standing beside her through it all is her closest companion, Néos. Among them are the famous characters such as Heracles and the Dioscuri. As one prince after another dies, the burden of these deaths starts to weigh heavily on her conscience. With the arrival of the cunning Hippomēnes, bringing the golden apples of Aphrodite, Atalanta is faced with a race that she cannot win. However, this one race will decide whether she keeps her freedom or fulfills the doom the gods have long foretold for her.

Author Edmond Thornfield made Atalanta’s story so much more entertaining and believable. The narrative style is incredible and completely transported me. I love mythology, and this novel was just perfect. The author uses archaic prose in the narrative that takes some time to get used to. Atalanta is such a fierce and compelling protagonist. She is fierce and independent but carries real guilt over every suitor's death. That inner conflict makes her so much more than just a mythical character. Her friendship with Néos might be my favorite part of the whole book. Their relationship is a loyal bond with genuine love. The level of historical detail in this novel is an absolute joy to read. I loved it when the author takes readers through the actual mountains and valleys in the myth. Atalanta of the Wild is a beautifully crafted story based on a famous Greek myth, and fans of mythology and historical fiction will absolutely love this!